The fantasy football season has gotten off to a big start with names like Peyton Manning and Adrian Peterson having big days and with Monday Night Football still to come, players for the Chargers and Texans will be looking to breakout, including names like Arian Foster, Philip Rivers, Ryan Mathews, Andre Johnson, Malcom Floyd and Matt Schaub.
Floyd suffered a knee injury in the preseason and players should be aware of how healthy he looks and Vincent Brown, Eddie Royal and Keenan Allen are the best options to replace him.
The Texans have one of the most consistent offensive units in the league and the team will be looking to start off fast against a Chargers team that looks improved under new head coach Mike McCoy. The team is planning on using both Arian Foster and Ben Tate, so if you have them on your fantasy teams, both are a hard START, especially because head coach Gary Kubiak said that he plans on using both in a rotation on Monday night against the Chargers after Foster dealt with a back issue during the preseason.
Foster has been one of the most worked backs in the league over the past two years and along with Matt Schaub he makes the main part of the Texans offense. Foster has pass catching skills and is a valuable option in all leagues, but since he has been battling some injuries, starting Tate is a smart move for any fantasy owners that have him as well. Even with Tate getting some carries, chances are Foster will be the leading rusher when it's all said and done and he is a great option to start on Monday night.
Andre Johnson and DeAndre Hopkins are excellent options for the Texans, as well as Owen Daniels, who is a favorite target of Schaub and could get some scoring chances in the red zone. The chargers have plenty of players that could have big nights as well, including Malcom Floyd, Philip Rivers and Ryan Mathews. Rivers is looking to rebound after a tough season last year and he could be a very valuable fantasy option for owners looking for a middle of the road quarterback with some great upside. He is a definite start on Monday night and so is Malcom Floyd, even though he is coming back from a knee injury.
Floyd and Eddie Royal along with Vincent Brown will be playing at wideout after Danario Alexander went down and the team could look to those players for prime production on Monday night. Ryan Mathews and Danny Woodhead are sleeper players and even though the Texans have a tough run defense, both should be starters on Monday. Woodhead could put up excellent numbers in PPR leagues with the way he catches the ball and obviously Mathews will be good or bad depending on if he can stay healthy for the first time in his career.
Antonio Gates is another good option and Rivers likely will go to him often after losing one of his top receivers. There are plenty of points to be had on Monday night and both the Texans and the Chargers should be able to do plenty fantasy wise for the ESPN broadcast.
